Royal University of Phnom Penh · during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979). ... or one-year study for the international students from partner universities and foreign students who

Supported by

Royal University of Phnom Penh

IRO Background

The International Relations

Office (IRO), officially

established on 12 October

2010, provides a channel for

international communication

and interactions between the

Royal University of Phnom

Penh and international

partners.

International Relations Office

(IRO)

Room 103, 1st floor, Building A

Postcode: 12156

Website: http://

www.rupp.edu.kh/iro/

Phone: +855 17 890 434

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to RUPP


Russian Federation Boulevard, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: 855-23-883-640 Fax: 855-23-880-116

Holding RUPP degree is the most qualified

and reliable achievement for the step to-

wards of your future.

The Royal University of Phnom Penh

(RUPP) is the oldest and the largest public

university in Cambodia with the only single

scientific and renowned academics in Cam-

bodia. We are promoting a culture of quali-

ty in Cambodia Higher Education and

providing critically thinking skills. Contrib-

uting to the needs of the Cambodia society,

we offer courses in sciences, social sciences

and humanities, development studies, edu-

cation, engineering and foreign languages.

Our students are inspired to bring about

the knowledge and skills to contribute to

their communities, professions and indus-

tries.

As part of RUPP’s commitment to interna-

tionalization and international collabora-

tion, IRO promotes student mobility and

student exchange programs through mutu-

al understanding between partner univer-

sities and international networks.

I look forward to welcoming you in our

campus.

Dr. OUM Ravy

Vice-Rector, International Relations


2

mailto:[email protected]

RUPP PROFILE

The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) first opened its doors on January 13, 1960,

with a National Institute of Judicial and Economic Studies, a Royal School of Medicine, a

National School of Commerce, a National Pedagogical Institute, a Faculty of Letters and

Human Sciences, and a Faculty of Science and Technology, but it was completely closed

during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979). It was re-opened on 13 May, 1980 and

within the last three decades, the University has continued to grow and expand.

Today, the RUPP is the largest and oldest public university in Cambodia, which provides

degrees in both undergraduates and postgraduates in many areas: sciences, social sciences

and humanities, development studies, education, engineering and foreign languages. It also

has two centers – Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) and Cambodia-Korea

Cooperation Center (CKCC). Due to its first and foremost productions of qualified

graduates for the whole Cambodian nation, RUPP has become a full memberships of

ASEAN University Network (AUN) since 1999 and a member of Greater Mekong Sub-

region (GMS) from 2015.

RUPP has significantly contributed to development of human resources for many sectors,

especially to training of teacher candidates for high schools and other public servant

candidates. Under the current trends, Cambodia has been integrated in the ASEAN

Economic Community (AEC) since 2015, the roles of RUPP in furthering its scopes and

heights in teaching, research and community services are to be improved and

strengthened accordingly.

3

Courses to Exchange

The following courses

are exchangeable with

the international

students. They are

fully conducted in

medium instruction of

English.

Bachelor of Art in Education in TEFL

Bachelor of Art in International Studies

Bachelor of Art in Media and Communication

Bachelor of Art in Khmer

Literature

Exchange Student Program

Overview The student exchange

program done at the Royal

University of Phnom Penh

aka RUPP is designed to

offer either a one-semester

or one-year study for the

international students from

partner universities and

foreign students who wish

to expose to different

culture and/or educational

settings.

For those foreign students

who wish to graduates from

any programs at the RUPP,

they have to register from

the first year or finish one

first academic year at their

university. Then, they have

to spend 70% of their

academic life with RUPP.

The information regarding

this mobility has to be done

through the International

Relations Office (IRO).

The Core Curriculum for Exchange Program

The RUPP provides multidisciplinary courses in the

fields of Natural Science, Social Sciences and

Humanities, Education, Engineering, Development

Studies, and Foreign Languages. The majority of the

medium of instruction are done in Khmer language.

However, three popular majors namely International

Studies, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (B.Ed.

in TEFL), and Media and Communication are

conducted in English. The three majors are credit

transferable.

4

Application Open

Application for Ex-

change programs in

Semester 1 opens from

the second week of

March to the third

week of May and for

Semester 2 opens from

the first week in Au-

gust to the fourth week

of October.

General Explanation about the University Exchange System

Length of Exchange Study

The length of student exchange study and program types under this Guideline are classified into the

following categories:

Length of Study

(a) less than six months

(b) six months or one semester

(c) one academic year

5

Academic Calendar for Exchange Program

Event Semester 1 Semester 2

Application Open Week 2 in March Week 1 in August

Deadline Exchange Application Week 3 of May Week 4 in October

Lectures starts 3rd Week in September to

January 1st Week in February

Semester break/Holiday One week break Long Vacation (Early July to Mid-

September)

Exam 3rd Week in January Exam weeks (Years 4, 3 and 2)

Admission Results released June Up to August October Up to December

Academics

Undergraduate Programs Faculty of Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Bachelor of Science in General Biology Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry Bachelor of Science in Physics Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and

Engineering Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

Bachelor of Arts in Khmer Literature Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Land

Management Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Bachelor of Arts in History Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Bachelor of Arts in International Business

Management (IBM) Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

Faculty of Development Studies Bachelor of Arts in Community Development Bachelor of Arts in Natural Resource

Management and Development Bachelor of Arts in Economic Development

Faculty of Education

Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies Bachelor of Arts in Higher Education

Management and Development Bachelor of Arts in Lifelong Learning

Faculty of Engineering

Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology Engineering

Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering

Bachelor of Arts in Bioengineering

Institute of Foreign Languages Bachelor of Arts in English for Work Skills Bachelor of Education (TEFL) Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Bachelor of Arts in French Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Bachelor of Arts in Korean Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Bachelor of Arts in Thai

Timeline for Exchange Program

Activities/Month

Semester1

Open to Applicants

Applying process

Approval of

Exchange

Result

Announcement

Visa Process

Mobility Starts

Semester 2

Open to Applicants

Applying process

Approval of

Exchange

Result

Announcement

Visa Process

Mobility Starts

Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation

Master of Development Studies

Master of Science in Chemistry

Master of Science in Mathematics

Master of Clinical Psychology and Counseling

Master of IT Engineering

Master of Education

Master of Arts in Linguistics

Master of Philosophy

Master of Physics

Master of Arts in Social Work

Master of Arts in Sociology

Master of Arts in TESOL

M.A. Program in Tourism and Resource

Management

Master of Translation Science

Master of Arts in Khmer Literature

Master of Science in Climate Changes

6

Graduate Programs

7

Students from the partners of RUPP, who are originally enrolled and intend to graduate

from their home institutions, are eligible to participate in the student exchange program at

RUPP maximum for one academic year. The exchange students will be given full registered

status at the RUPP and accorded all rights and privileges commensurate with this stage. It

is worth emphasizing that the exchange students will continue as candidates for degrees

at their home institution, and will not be candidates for degrees at RUPP.

Applicant has to submit the official documents such academic transcript, Certificate of

English Language Proficiency (Att. Non-Native English Speaker), one passport size

photograph, a valid passport, letter of approval /endorsement from home university,

application form of admission (can be downloaded from RUPP website or contact

IRO).

Student Status

Photo credit: Helene

8

To apply for the exchange programs at RUPP, the applicant has to complete at least two

semesters in any related academic fields in his or her home university. The RUPP

retains the right to approve or reject the recommendation based on the students’

qualifications in meeting the admission requirements, but the home institution may

appeal a decision by requesting reconsideration.

By the beginning of the exchange period for which you are applying, exchange students

should be maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. You must meet the

language requirement set by the respective faculty or program to which you are

admitted.

You might find one semester of study at RUPP is not equivalent to one semester of

study at your home university. In this case, the imbalance in credit earns shall be either

converted or compensated for in succeeding years by home university. Please consult

your university before moving to any exchange programs at RUPP.

The International Relations Office (IRO) or International Affairs at the home institution

shall send a complete set of scanned application materials for each nominee to the

RUPP by the designated application deadline via IRO email ([email protected]) and

the hard copies will be requested after the acceptance letter released. The RUPP will

send acceptance letters, visa application materials, housing arrangement documents (if

applicable) and other important information to the home university as soon as they are

available.

Important documents 1. CV (Use the format in Appendix)

2. Personal Statement (Free format)

3. Certificate of Health (Use Home country format)

4. Certificate of Enrollment (Approved by Home university)

5. Academic Transcript (Scanned and Original after admitted)

6. Letter of Recommendation from the Dean of Home University (Sent online)

7. Face Photo Image Data (JPEG. Passport size)

8. Photocopy of Passport (Valid Passport at least 6 months)

9. Photocopy of English Scores (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)

Application Documents and Admission Procedure


Before moving to the RUPP, exchange students must continue to pay tuition fees at their

home institution and will be exempt from paying tuition fees at the RUPP. The fees of

course materials or medical care insurance, living allowance and daily expenses have to be

borne by exchange students.

RUPP will assist the exchange students to find

appropriate accommodations. Each exchange

student shall be responsible for his/her own

room and board, transportation to and from

the RUPP campus and other living expenses.

The RUPP shall not be held liable for such

charges, but the home institution or the

exchange students can request the information

of the estimated expenses if needed.

9

Tuitions and Fees

Student Visa Application and Responsibility

Accommodations and Expenses

Currently, the exchange students will be

responsible for applying for a visa and

RUPP will provide the exchange students

with supporting documents, which are

required for obtaining visa. RUPP gives no

warranty that any student will be entitled

to an appropriate visa, but the University

complies with the statutes, rules,

regulations and policies of the country and

commits to facilitate the required ongoing

student visa conditions under the laws of

Cambodia.

Exchange student from France

Photo credit: Helene

Program Specification of BA in International Studies Bachelor of Art in

International Studies

Major in International

Relations and

International Economics

Minimum required: 8

semesters

Credit required: 120

Expected Learning Outcomes:

Successful DIS graduates will be able to:

demonstrate a knowledge of specific facts, concepts, and

generalizations regarding the geography, history, culture,

politics and economy of Asia;

describe the impact of international events and systems at

the regional, national, and local levels in at least one major

area of the world;

adapt and apply a deep understanding of multiple

worldviews, experiences, and power structures while

initiating meaningful interaction with other cultures to

address significant global problems;

10


demonstrate a knowledge of the economic, historical, political and cultural factors that inform

cross-border relations among nation-states and between nation-states and other actors on the

international stage;

demonstrate at least an upper-intermediate level of fluency in English language;

Blend knowledge, skills, and analytical reasoning skills to implement sophisticated, appropriate,

and workable solutions to address complex global problems at multiple levels from the

workplace through the global sphere;

form the tools to take informed and responsible action to address ethical, social, and political

challenges in global systems and evaluates the local and broader consequences of individual and

collective interventions;

locate and evaluate the perspective, quality and accuracy of information resources with

particular reference to international affairs, economics, and trade;

demonstrate ability to clearly communicate knowledge via oral and written means.

DIS: Year 2

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

IS201 The UN System and Agencies 3 IS206 Principles of Macroeconomics 3

IS202 Principles of Microeconomics 3 IS207 International Relations II 3

IS203 International Relations I 3 IS208 Model ASEAN Summit 3

IS204 Politics and Governments in

Southeast Asia 3 IS209

Critical Thinking for Global Af-

fairs and Local Development 3

IS205 Professional Communication

Skills 3 IS210

ASEAN in Regional and Global

Contexts 3

11

DIS: Summary of Credits per year

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

IS301 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 IS306 Model United Nations 3

IS302 International Political

Economy 3 IS307 Comparative Politics 3

IS303 Introduction to Research 3 IS308 Institutions in Asia Pacific 3

IS304 Public International Law 3 IS309 Research Methods in

International Relations 3

IS305 Global Governance 3 IS310 Civil Society 3

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

IS401 Foreign Policy I 3 IS406 Foreign Policy II: Cambodia

Focus 3

IS402 Governance Issues in

Developing Countries 3 IS407

International Human Rights

Law 3

IS403 Globalization and Social

Change 3 IS408

International Development

Economics 3

IS404 Conflict Resolution 3 IS409 International Security 3

IS405 Actors and Power in

International Politics 3 IS410

Diplomacy: Theory and

Practice 3

DIS: Year 3

DIS: Year 4

Year Number of Subjects per year Credits: 120 Comment

1 10 30 No Exchangeable

2 10 30 Transferable



Program Specification of BA in International Studies Bachelor of Art in


Major in International

Relations and


Minimum required: 8

semesters


Bachelor of Arts in International Studies majoring in


The curriculum offered at the DIS provides students with a

comprehensive understanding of the four inter-related themes:

(1) International Relations and Governance Studies, (2)

International Economics and Trade, (3) International Law and

Organizations, and (4) Area Studies.

The DIS offers two strands for the BA programs in year 4—

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies majoring in

International Relations and Bachelor of Arts in International

Studies majoring in International Economics (IE).

To obtain IE Degree, students can choose their professional

field by the end of year 3.

12


DIS: Year 4

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

IE401 Introduction to Economic

Research 3 IE406 Industrial Policy 3

IE402 Regional Economies: ASEAN,

G8, BRICS and East Asia 3 IE407 Global Financial Crisis 3

IE403 Special Topics on Trade in

Developing Countries 3 IE408

International Development

Economics 3

IE404 International Trade Theory

and Policy 3 IE409

Environmental Economics (for

regular program only) 3

IE405 International Monetary

Economics and Policy 3 IE410

Globalization and Social Chang-

es (for regular program only) 3

IE: Summary of Credits per year






13

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

CE201 Core English 2 6 CE202 Core English 2 6

WS201 Writing Skills 2 3 WS202 Writing Skills 2 3

LS201 Literature Studies 2 3 LS202 Literature Studies 2 3

GS201 Global Studies 2 3 GS202 Global Studies 2 3

BA: Year 2

B. Ed (TEFL)

Program Specification of BA in TEFL Bachelor of Education

Major in Teaching

English as a Foreign

Language (TEFL)

Minimum required: 8

semesters


Successful graduates will be able to:

incorporate different linguistics and psychological

theories into their teaching of English as a foreign

language (TEFL) at the secondary school level

design effective lesson plans for their teaching

design appropriate syllabus for their English

language teaching

design valid, reliable, and practical various English

language tests

analyze the test scores for better assessment


BA: Year 3

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

15

Credits

CE301 Core English 3 6 CE302 Core English 3 6

RM301 Introduction to Research

Methods 3 3 RM302

Introduction to Research Meth-

ods 3 3

GS301 Global Studies 3 3 GS302 Global Studies 3 3

LS301 Literature Studies 3 3 LS302 Literature Studies 3 3

Program Specification of BA in Professional Communication (PC) Bachelor of Arts

Major in English for

Professional

Communication

Minimum required: 8

semesters




write effective project proposals and reports for a

suitable workplace.

use English language for communication both orally

and in written forms in professional context at an

advanced level.

analyze various issues they encounter using critical

thinking skills.

14

English for Work Skills

B. Ed: Year 4

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

19

Credits

TM401 Teaching Methodology 4 6 TM402 Teaching Methodology 4 6

AL401 Applied Linguistics 4 4.5 AL402 Applied Linguistics 4 4.5

FE401 Foundations of Education 4 4.5 FE402 Foundations of Education 4 4.5

TP402 Practicum (Teaching Practice) 4

B. Ed: Summary of Credits per year


1 8 30 Not Exchangeable

2 8 30 Transferable

3 8 30 Transferable

4 7 34 Transferable

15

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

15

Credits

PW401 Proposal Writing 4 3 RW402 Report Writing 4 3

CM401 Communication Skills 4 3 IE402 Introduction to Ethics 4 3

IG401 Introduction to Globalization 4 3 IC402 Intercultural Communication

Skills 4 3

CT401 Critical Thinking 4 3 AE402 Advanced English 4 3

AE401 Advanced English 4 3 CM402 Communication Skills 4 3

BA: Year 4

BA in PC: Summary of Credits per year


1 8 30 Not Exchangeable

2 8 30 Transferable

3 8 30 Transferable


Program Specification of BA in International Business (IB) Bachelor of Arts

Major in English for

International Business

Minimum required: 8

semesters




elaborate on different general concepts of business in

English.

write effective project proposals and reports for a

suitable workplace.

effectively use English language for communications

and daily business transactions both orally and in

written forms in a business context at an advanced

level.

analyze various issues they encounter using critical

thinking skills.

16

English

BA in IB: Year 4

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

15

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

15

Credits

IB401 International Business 4 9 IB402 International Business 4 9

CM401 Communication Skills 4 3 IC402 Intercultural 3

IG401 Introduction to

Globalization 4 3 CM402 Communication Skills 4 3

BA in IB: Summary of Credits per year



2 8 30 Transferable

3 8 30 Transferable

4 6 30 Transferable

17

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

17

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

17

Credits

GE201 General English III 3 GE202 General English IV 3

NWR201 News Writing and Reporting I 3.5 NWR202 News Writing and Reporting II 3.5

JIC201 Journalistic Inquiry and Com-

mentary I 3 JIC202

Journalistic Inquiry and Com-

mentary II 3

GDL201 Graphic Design and Layout I 3 GDL202 Graphic Design and Layout II 3

PJ201 Photojournalism 3 MEL202 Media Ethics and Law 3

GL201 Guest Lecture 1.5 GL202 Guest Lecture 1.5

BA in MC: Year 2

Media and Communication

In year 2, Media and Communication degree provides

graduates with numerous competencies. In year two, it

aims mainly to cover different journalistic genres and

writing styles. The main focus is on print media. This

includes news writing, features and commentaries.

However, the focus is also on building analytical and

conceptual skills, creating print media products and to

visualize news by photography.

Overview Year 2

Program Specification of BA in Media and Communication (MC) Bachelor of Arts

Major in Media and

Communication

Minimum required: 8

semesters


18

BA in MC: Year 3

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(18 hours/week)

17

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

17

Credits

BJ301 Broadcast Journalism I 3.5 BJ302 Broadcast Journalism II 3.5

RP301 Radio Production 3 TVP302 TV/Video Production 3

IR301 In-depth Reporting/

Investigative Reporting 3 MS302 Media and Society 3

ML301 Media Literacy 3 MCR302 Applied Mass Communication

Research 3

IR301 Introduction to Research 3

PR302

CC302

PC302

PAJ302

Public Relations

Corporate Communication

Political Communication

Public Affairs Journalism

3

GL301 Guest Lecture 1.5 GL302 Guest Lecture 1.5

Overview Year 3

In year 3, the course focus is on

broadcast journalism. It covers the

overall complexity of putting together a

broadcast/TV program, both from an

editorial and technical point of view, as

well as of the specific ethical standards

for media producers. It also aims on

critical engagement with digital

technologies, e.g. building up

professional competencies in social

media literacy and anticipating the shift

to user-generated content

19

Course

Code

Semester1: Subjects

(12 hours/week)

11

Credits

Course

Code

Semester2: Subjects

(9 hours/week)

18

Credits

PM401 Project Management 3.5 NM402 Newsroom Management 3.5

TPT401 Thesis and Production Tutorial 3 EJ402 Entrepreneurial Journalism 3

MJ401 Multimedia Journalism 3 GL402 Guest Lecture 1.5

GL401 Guest Lecture 1.5 * Graduation (Option) 10

BA in MC: Year 4

In year 4, Modern media outlets work

with different platforms (print, video,

online) which are underlined by

processes of converging. Addressing

this complexity in multimedia

environment needs comprehensive

journalistic creativity as well as

management skills. Year 4 concentrates

on these interconnected issues,

although it highly prioritizes

management-related issues to better

prepare students towards a media

management-related degree.

Overview Year 4

* Graduation

Course

Code Option

10

Credits

Course

Code Option

10

Credits

RT Research Thesis 10 CE Comprehensive Exam 10

CMP Creative Media Project 10

BA in PC: Summary of Credits per year (Not included option)

Year Number of Subjects per year Credits: 121~131 Comment





RUPP International Partners

Austria

1. Venna University of Technology

Australia

1. La Trobe University

2. The University of New South Wales

3. The University of Adelaide

4. Charles Darwin University

Belgium

1. University College Leuven (Group T)

2. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

(University of Leuven)

China

1. Yunnan Nationalities University

(Yunnan Minzu University)

2. Guangxi University for Nationalities, P.R. China

3. Dali University and Honghe University

4. Yunnan Normal University

5. Guangxi Normal University

6, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

7. Beijing Foreign Studies University

8. Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

9. Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of

Sciences (IHB)

10. Minnan Normal University

11. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

12. Dali University

13. Southern University of Science and Technology

(SUSTech)

14. Nanjing Institute of Railway Technology

15. Shaanxi Railway Institute

16. Honghe University

17. Kunming University

18. The Hongkong Polytechnic University

19. Huawei Technologies (Cambodia) Ci., LTD

Finland

1. University of Turku

France

1. L’Universite Paris Diderot

2. L’InstitutNationale des Langues et Civilisation,

Orientales

3. Le Centre International de Mathematiques

Pureet Appliquees (CIMPA), Avenue JoacNice

4. L’Universite PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE

5. L’Universite De Caen Basse-Normandie

6. L’Universite Paul Subatier-Toulouse III

7. Catholic University of Paris

8. Universite Paris-Sud

Germany

1. IWR, Heidelberg University

2. Humboldt-Universitatzu Germany

3. Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences

Hungary

1. King Sigismund Business School

(Hungary) and

2. Alfred Nobel Open Business School (China)

Italy

1. Bergamo University

2. Sapienza University

3. Bergamo University

Japan

1. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

2. Osaka Prefecture University

3. Nagoya University

4. Nihon Fukushi University

5. Chiba University

6. Daito Bunka University

7. Soka University

8. Waseda University

9. Sophia University

10. Saga University

11. Kanagawa University of Human Services

12. Mie University

13. Senshu University

14. Utsunomiya University

15. Osaka International University

16. Otemae University

17. Graduate Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

18. Chiba Institute of Technology

19. Okayama University

20. Taiken Gakuen Wellness University (Nihon

Wellness Sports University)

21. Toyo University

22. Ashikaga Institute of Technology

23. Fukuoka University

24. University of Tsukuba

25. Kyoto University (CSEAS, ASAFAS, and

CIAS)

26. Graduate School of Management, Kyoto

University

20

21

27. Saitama University

28. Showa Women’s University

29. Mie University

30. Chuo University

31. Shokei Gakuin University

32. University of Fukui 33. Hiroshima University

34. Niigata University

35. Kobe University

36. Hosei University

Korea

1. Chungnam National University

2. Ewha Woman University

3. Konkuk University

4. Soongsil University

5. Mokwon University

6. White Information Networking CO..Ltd

7. Chonbuk National University

8. Yonsei University

9. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

10. Seoul National University

11. Dong-A University

12. Sogang University

13. Yeungnam University

14. Korea Women’s Development Institute (KWDI)

15. Catholic University of Daegu

16. Woosong University

17. The Korean Research Institute (KRI), University

of New South Wales, Australia

18. Incheon National University

19. Jeju National University

20. Ajou University

21. Kongju University

22. Sejong University

23. Dong Eui University

24. Kyungpook National University

25. The Korea Foundation

Malaysia

1. Universiti Sains Malaysia

2. Universiti Utara Malaysia

Norway

1. University of Bergen

Singapore

1. Temasek Polytechnic

2. Hemispheres Foundation

Spain

1. Universidad de Granada

Sweden

1. Uppsala University

2. Umea University

3. Erasmus+ Programme

4. Swedish International Development Agent (SIDA)

5. International Science Program (ISP), Uppsala

Thailand

1. Naresuan University

2. Asian Institute of Technology

3. Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences

3. Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University

4. Mahasarakham University

5. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)

6. Shinawatra University

7. Thammasat University

8. Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University,

9. Ubon Rachathani University

10.UbonRachathani Rajabhat University

11.KhonKaen University 123 Mitraparp High

way, Khon Kaen 40002

12.Chiang RaiRajabhat University

13.BuriramRajabhat University

14.Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)

15.Suratthani Rajabhat University

16.King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology

Ladkrabang

UK

1. Department of Geography UCL,

United Kingdom

USA

1. Northern Illinois University

2. Texas State University

3. Texas Tech University

4. The University of Tennessee

5. OHIO University

6. University of Hawai’i of Manoa

7. University of Washington, Seattle

Vietnam

1. Teacher Training of HoChi Minh City

2. Can Tho University

3. Thai Nguyen University

4. Long An Province

5. Long An Provincial Department of Home

Affairs

6. Dongthap External Relations Department

7. Kien Giang University

8. Program 165

Airport Information The distance between the

airport and the Royal

University of Phnom Penh

is approximately 7 km.

Under normal conditions,

it will take 20 minutes to

go to the University from

the airport and vice versa.

ENTRY VISA TO CAMBODIA

It is important to check

whether you have valid

travel documents. Your

passport must be at least

6 months validity at the

date of your entry to Cam-

bodia. Please check Visa

requirement before trav-

eling to Cambodia. You

are strongly advised to

contact your local agen-

cies for additional clarifi-

cation on Visa issue.

22

Visa Exemptions

No. Country

Duration

Diplomatic

Passport

Service

Passport

Regular

Passport

Remarks

1 Brunei Darussalam 14 days 14 days 14 days ASEAN

2 Indonesia 14 days 14 days 30 days ASEAN

3 Lao PDR 90 days 30 days 30 days ASEAN

4 Malaysia 30 days 30 days 30 days ASEAN

5 Myanmar 30 days 30 days 14 days ASEAN

6 Philippines 30 days 30 days 21 days ASEAN

7 Singapore 30 days 30 days 30 days ASEAN

8 Thailand 30 days 30 days 14 days ASEAN

9 Viet Nam 30 days 30 days 30 days ASEAN

10 Cuba Depend on mission VR

11 China 30 days 30 days VR

12 India 60 days 60 days VR

13 The Republic of Korea 60 days 60 days VR

14 Iran 30 days 30 days VR

Note: VR= Visa Required From Phnom Penh International Airport to RUPP

ATTENTION! There are several kinds

of transportation, but the

Cambodian people prefer

riding TUK TUK or Tri-

Motorcycle aka “ Reu

Mork”. Please be aware

that you have to bargain

the fare before getting on

it.

Taxi-Meter is availa-

ble: 010 311 888 or

010 311 666

Or: 010 777 010

/ 010 888 010

/ 010 999 010

Public Bus is available,

but it bounds to the city

center, but it also stops

on Kampuchea Krom

Street which (one block

difference) is approxi-

mately 400 meters

from RUPP.

Taxi from Airport to the

City costs about US$10-

US$15, but in the city it

depends on the meter.

Please tell the driver to

use distance-meter. We

recommend you to use

airport taxi.

Safety and Security

It is not safe to travel

alone at night and you

should go with your

friends in the day time

for safety reasons. Be

careful with your valua-

ble belongings such as

passport, wallet, phone

or camera…etc. In case

carrying backpack to the

market, please keep it in

front of you all the time.

NEVER carry it on your

back.

Sharing Experience for incoming European students

“An international exchange is

all about the experience. Basi-

cally, just live it. Open your

mind and let yourself be em-

braced by this intriguing

country and its lovely people.”

Dear future RUPP-student,

The International Relations

and Mobility Office asked me

to write this document from

my very own experience at

RUPP. I came here on a short

Lotus+ staff exchange of one

month and a half, but from

the perspective of student

affairs, I intensively focused

on the process of being an

exchange student at RUPP. I

love to share my experience,

although yours may turn out

to be totally different. The

aim is to give some tips and

manage your expectations in

the preparation.

Cambodian culture may be

different from the one in

your home country. Do not

get frustrated, because it is

different. My central advice:

just stay relaxed, keep your

smile and be friendly. Trying

to understand a different

context is part of the inter-

cultural journey you will be

taking. The best way to re-

spectfully interact with an-

other culture, is to be open,

observe and behave in a

comparable way.

Relaxed kindness is the hu-

man nature, and essential

formula of social interaction

in Cambodia: the key to eve-

rything. It will charm you

and you will enjoy it and fi-

nally fall in love with it, for-

getting your Western plan-

ning and deadlines. Enjoy!

Ben Van Beeck, Phnom Penh,

20/01/2017.

23

(Experience shared by Mr Ben Van Beeck, VUB Staff Exchange with QAC)

Please check your electronic appliances whether they are usable

in Cambodia. You may find a universal adapter, if yours do not

fall into any categories mentioned below.

POWER SOCKET

IRO will welcome you, help you find accommodation and extent your VISA. They will be the contact

to soften your encounter and the go-between for academic and administrative affairs. If you really

want it, they can also offer you to pick you up at the airport.

Royal University Phnom Penh, International Relations Office (IRO).


Russian Federation Boulevard, Toul Kork,

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Postcode: 12156

Website: http://www.rupp.edu.kh/iro/

Phone: +855 17 890 434


There are three main academic entrance

gates to RUPP.

You apply for a scholarship and study

programme through an exchange programme

that features RUPP, e.g. the Erasmus Mundus

Lotus+ programme. The application is in the

programme’s online portal, but you will need

to acquire some documents from RUPP to

upload there.

A second option is the potential partnership

between RUPP and your home university.

This means you enrol in your home

university, but you follow specific courses at

RUPP within the frame of an exchange

contract between both universities.

A third option is to enrol as a degree seeker at

RUPP. At that point, you are an official

student of RUPP. You will enrol on the spot in

the Study’s Office in the middle of September.

However, in all three options, the IRO office

will be your main prior contact.

24

Your crucial contact at RUPP

How to apply

How to prepare for the trip

Please check with your national health

institution and your doctor which vaccines

you need to be protected in Cambodia. You

may need malaria pills, if you want to

backpack in remote areas. Also ask to

prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections,

just in case.

Make sure you have the right documents:

Passport, which covers your stay plus 6

months.

The rules for VISA in Cambodia are not

very clear, also not for IRO. You can buy

a one-month tourist VISA on the airport

of Phnom Penh, but you can also buy it

online or in the Cambodian embassy

back home.


Do not pay a lot of money for a VISA for

longer than a month, because the officer at

the airport will automatically stamp it on one

month. This stamp apparently overrules the

dates of the home embassy. So basically, you

will have to buy a VISA extension anyway.

The IRO office will arrange that for you, but it

can cost around $50 ,which lasts for your

whole stay.

Please make sure that you have all your

official documents by the university

signed and stamped before you embark.

RUPP is quite strict on an administrative

level (signature, stamp, correctness of

the document). They mostly require the

other university to sign first, and they

want the originals.

It is a good idea to book a room and an

airport pick-up for about 4 nights through

internet. You may want to choose the more

tourist area near the riverside, because it is

more Western and this could help you to

relax during the first days. It could also be a

long term stay, because a lot of interesting

stuff is happening there. Be aware, that this

may be more expensive. Also take the traffic

into account. If you only stay a short period,

and really want to experience the authentic

Cambodian life the way I did, you may want

to leave that area. Most students try to stay

close to the campus. IRO can help you find

the accommodation you are looking for.

Their language skills and know-how are

very welcome, in case of rental contract or

price negotiation.

Good practices of a traveller For students who are inexperienced with

travelling, please note the following general

tips. Some of them are not needed in Phnom

Penh, but in this beautiful country you will

want to travel to remote areas:

A travel wallet under your pants is a safe

way to carry money and valuable

documents.

Make copies of your official documents and

spread them over various luggage and

spaces.

A pillow cover is a good bag for laundry.

A small flashlight on batteries always

comes in handy when backpacking to

remote areas.

Use hygienic hand wash, especially in the

beginning, when your body is not yet

adapted.

Do not drink tab water and brush your

teeth with mineral or boiled water. Mostly,

the water in restaurants is mineral or

boiled, but if you have any doubts, please

ask them.

Although pharmacies are quite

omnipresent and helpful, you can take a

small first aid kit with you, some

disinfectant alcohol and a European

selection of basic medicaments your body

is used to (Immodium, Dafalgan, …).

Bring insect repellent to protect yourself

for mosquitoes.

We advise to take a dose of prescribed

antibiotics for bacterial infections. Tell

your doctor you require it for travelling

and he or she will know what your need.

Cambodian electricity is the one of the

European mainland, as it was a French

colony. If you are from the UK, even other

European countries, please bring an

electricity adapter to connect your devices

(It is also available in Cambodia Market,

but in case you have no time at the first

arrival). Check the temperature online

for the period you are going, and count

some extra humidity. You will need a

lot of shirts in the beginning.

25

Be well aware that you may go through a

physical, mental and social process of

adaptation, and even a culture shock. This is

not unusual, as it is just a part of the whole

experience. Do not just give up and make

the best of it. You will see that the world will

open like a Lotus flower. Please do talk to

the IRO people, or the international office in

your home country, if you feel really bad. Be

well aware that you may go through a

physical, mental and social process of

adaptation, and even a culture shock. This is

not unusual, as it is just a part of the whole

experience. Do not just give up and make

the best of it. You will see that the world will

open like a Lotus flower. Please do talk to

the IRO people, or the international office in

your home country, if you feel really bad.

First day blues

On your first day you may feel lost and

disoriented, especially when you come to a

complete new culture on your own. You may

feel bizarre after a long flight and jetlagged.

Your enthusiasm for the adventure may push

you to discover the city anyway, and you may

not be used to saying “no” yet. Tourist

trappers know this and try to abuse this kind

of vulnerability. Determine beforehand which

money you want to spend or not. Do not go

home with anyone, you do not really know.

Maybe it is even more advisable to take it

easy the first days, and wait till you have met

the people at IRO.

Discovery and adaptation

Your first week will be a discovery. You will

have to find out a lot, and need to arrange

some things. You will have to find out where

to eat, how to travel and how to use the

bathroom. Everything is new and interesting,

but some things will not go the way you are

used to. Try to understand things the way

they go over here and try to adapt through

empathy. The first week may be difficult for

your body. The climate is hot and moist, and

you may sweat a lot. Your lungs may have

difficulties in the city air. The switch between

the warmth outside and cold air-conditioned

room inside can lead to catch a cold. Next to

that, your stomach may have to adapt to the

food. Hygiene in general is good in Cambodia,

but it is advisable not to go to adventurous in

your eating from the start. One tip: look for

Khmer language classes or a private teacher.

It will totally change your experience. (IRO

people can help you find the right one).

Knocking on the door

The second and third week you will knock on

the door of the Cambodian community, but

they may not open straight away. Some

students are not accustomed to foreigners,

and may seem suspicious. This actually is just

a perception. Most Cambodian students

actually are very interested in talking to

foreigners, as a lot of them dream to go

abroad also. They are just very shy

sometimes, and may feel insecure about

themselves towards a Western student. Don’t

push yourself too hard, and leave the

Cambodian students their time and space to

get acquainted, but do not hesitate to take the

initiative to talk. They will actually quite like

that you some interest in them, although they

may avoid answering personal questions.

Don’t be shy yourself. Being nice and relaxed

is the key. You will discover that they are very

lovely, sweet people by nature.

26

Process of feeling at home

In this phase, you may also discover that

some things are slow and complicated at

RUPP, especially on an administrative level.

They may insist on some details that you may

find irrelevant, from exchange documents to

substitutions in the football tournament.

There is also no real information culture and

Facebook is more important than a mobile

website or learning environment. Don’t lose

your temper, because impatience or

extravert complaining feels insulting to

Cambodian people. Again: being nice and

relaxed is the key.

Feeling at home Just when you were thinking you were not

getting through some walls, it just might

happen. An accidental encounter, a repeated

conversation step by step, the gradual

process of settling in … your efforts to make

contact finally seem to pay off. After four

weeks, you may discover some structure in

your life: routines, habits, interests, a place to

stay, traffic insights, a hobby, a time

schedule, a favourite restaurant, some fixed

people. You will start to feel at home. At this

moment, you will lay some foundations for

the rest of your adventure.

Culture shock Although you may be surprised about the

similarities between people over the world,

you cannot deny that Europeans and Asians

have a different culture. It starts with the

language, but it also is about different social

interaction and way of thinking. Although

Phnom Penh is rapidly evolving with a lot of

foreign investments, it still is Cambodia.

A culture shock is very common in your

situation. It is a process of about six months

up to a year, which can be compared to a love

relationship. In the beginning, you are in

love. Everything is new and it is fantastic, far

better, fairer and more interesting than in

back home. After a while you will discover

that back home is not so bad and you may

start to discover some negative aspects about

Cambodia, that may frustrate you. This

process of negotiation between both cultures

may lead to a point of crisis, which should be

the turning point to find balance and

acceptance afterwards.

The point of crisis can be risky, if you cannot

get out it. It may end in a bad feeling, or total

homesickness. The only way on that moment

is to find help: talk to people. Sharing

experiences with people in a comparable

situation can be helpful, but we advise you to

take contact with one of the international

offices (or IRO people) also.

Below I will briefly touch some factors that

may cause this kind of experience, although

they are just meant as helpful practical tips.

Cambodian kindness

The unforgettable thing about Cambodia is

the people. Being confronted with the sweet,

friendly, adorable, relaxed, caring nature of

Cambodians can however be shocking, if you

come from a hasty, impersonal Western city.

In every city in the world, there are tourist

trappers and people with bad intentions, so

do not be naï ve on that level, but one thing

you can be sure about: the Cambodian

kindness is real. You will discover that the

way Cambodians deal with each other, also

total strangers, may contain much more

human love than back home, and this may

make you angry about Western

individualism and dissatisfaction despite

comfort and wealth. However, consider it in a

positive way. You have the chance of

experiencing it, and after a while, you will

discover that back home is not so bad after

all, and that the West is also doing a lot of

good things too.

27

On a second thought, you might even think

that the Cambodian kindness may be

superficial, because you do not get ‘real

access’ to their inner thoughts. On the third

thought however, when you also break down

that barrier, you will discover that this is not

true. Cambodians are genuine and authentic

people. You may not just give up, if it not

works from the first time. A lot of Cambodian

people may not be used to foreigners, but

most of them are open for it.

With the kindness, there is also relaxedness

on a social level. I am afraid that the only way

to adapt is to let go of your strict planning or

strong principles. Take the moment when you

get it, because you may find practical

difficulties to get to a planned meeting

afterwards.

Traffic and getting around

Contradictive to the relaxed nature of the

Cambodian people is the chaos of the traffic. I

would not call it hectic and in some Asian

countries it is far worse. People will however

not stop at red lights, lanes are non-existing

and you will meet ghost drivers from the

opposite direction. People mostly however

know what they do, and accidents are rare

during daytime.

To get around, you can take a tuktuk (Motor-

Tricycles). This is a kind of multi-seater

caravan behind a motorbike. It is a bit more

expensive than a motor, jumping on the back.

The fee depends on the distance and it is wise

to negotiate or you will pay too much. A pre-

arranged taxi pick-up from the airport could

be an idea for your first day. We advise you to

first take some Tuk-Tuks and motors to

observe how they do it, before you launch

yourself into the traffic. It requires some

skills.

If you want to turn off or cross the street, you

will have to be assertive and trust that the

cars and motorbikes will stop. The best way

to do it is being firm in a continuous

movement. Cars and motorbikes do not stop

for pedestrians. You can cross the street

anywhere, but also do it in a continuous

movement. The motorbikes will keep on

coming, but they will calculate how they will

avoid you. Do not stop in the middle of a

movement, because this may confuse them.

If a security person helps you out with a car,

or helps you cross the street, it is accustomed

to give some money by the window.

Food and markets

Food in Cambodia is very good and rather

hygienic, so the chance to get bacteria is

rather small, also in the more local

restaurants. It can be advisable to take a calm

start and not go spicy in the beginning,

allowing your stomach some space to get

acquainted. In the city, there are plenty of

Western restaurants from burger to pizza.

There are a lot of French ‘bistrots’, but I also

saw an Irish pub, a Belgian fries shop and an

Italian pasta restaurant. Next to that, you

have the whole Asian gamma from Indian

over Thai to Japanese.

28

Food is quite

cheap, compared

to the West. I

have done the

whole gamma

from expensive to

street food, and I

have not been sick after four weeks. In other

countries I had a different experience.

If you chose to cook by yourself, you may be

shocked by the intensity of the markets and

the way fish and flesh is treated. If fish is still

alive, it means it cannot be more fresh

despite it has not been cooled. Flesh from the

market is up to your own judgement. There

are also many supermarkets, as you probably

are more used to. Chinese, Korean, or even a

New-Zealand mart.

Language

It is a good idea to learn Khmer, because it

will add a lot to the experience. Language is

the key to get real access to a culture.

Cambodians are in general oriented on

English, and you will be able to manage

yourself with it, but not all students speak it,

or speak it very well.

IFL offers intensive Khmer courses, but

maybe you can afford a private teacher or a

RUPP student, since wages are in general not

so high.

Poverty

Phnom Penh is a rapidly growing city, and a

lot of interesting things are happening right

now. The private investments help a lot to

improve the city, but you cannot deny a huge

gap between the old and the new, the rich

and the poor. Phnom Penh has some of the

fanciest buildings, next to ramshackle

houses. Big fat cars share the street with

leaking motorbikes.

It would be superficial to blame the money

making private investments, because private

money is also doing a lot of good work for the

city and country, e.g. scholarships for

students. But wages are generally very poor

for ordinary people, especially students. A

standard wage for some fulltime jobs with

long days can be only US$200.

Especially, when you go off the beaten track

you may be shocked by the living

circumstances of some people. You can help

them by buying something, but locals told

me, it is not advised to give money to

beggars, especially children.

Socially acceptable behaviour

The best way to enter a new culture is to

observe and imitate. I will list some aspects

of socially acceptable behaviour I have

learned:

Bringing your hands together and bowing is a sign of respect. Normally you keep your hands under your chin, but to older or higher ranked people you bring them on the height of your mouth. Nose and forehead are for monks and the king respectively. Greeting this way will be appreciated, especially on the first encounter.

Politics are in general not discussed in public spaces, only at home.

Cambodians may ask you a lot of questions about where you go and what time you plan to be home, but this is genuine interest not control, and a way to offer help.

29

Do not lose your cool and always stay

friendly not to embarrass people.

You may wonder about the dress code to

appear on university. Cambodians tend to

cover up, but your European wear will be

okay: long trousers, light shirt or a long

light dress. Shoes would be appropriate as

staff, but Cambodian students also wear

sandals or slippers.

Cambodians take their shoes off when

entering a house.

If you want to take a picture, please ask

permissions. They will mostly say yes,

especially when they get acquainted to

you.

Cambodians generally do not kiss or hug in

public. They may touch you on the arm, or

in the belly, as an act of kindness of

appreciation. Never touch on the head, I

was told.

In dealing with monks, there is a general

set of prescriptions, but the most

remarkable one was that they cannot

accept shaking hands from women.

Be kind and you cannot do wrong.

Safety

I had expected that safety could be an issue in

such a big city, but generally I felt at ease in

Phnom Penh. In my home city, I have a

general cautiousness for robbery. Here I lost

that completely, even though I went to walk

in poor neighbourhoods, even in the dark.

I think Phnom Penh is generally a safe city,

and Cambodian people are relaxed and not

envious, which would bring them to steal

from you. People generally do not hide their

money, and people leave their helmets on

their motorbikes. In every city there is small

criminality though, don’t be naï ve either. Bag

snatching and stealing unlocked belongings is

according to some other expats a problem,

but personally, I never encountered any

problem during my stay.

Overcharging Western people is a general

trick. Also pay attention in the tourist area for

people that tell you that a relative will go to

your country. These are not local Cambodian

people, but it is a gang in the whole of South-

East Asia. The trick of this story has been

going on for almost ten years now in the

region. They try to lure you to their home, to

drug you slightly by offering food and then try

to make you play cards in the euphoria. Don’t

believe that you stand a chance. You

eventually will lose a money, because it all

was a set-up hoax. It is advised not to go

home to people you do not know.

If someone of the university invites you home,

even to the province, please do it. It will be an

unforgettable experience in Cambodian

hospitality. You can best inform IRO about it,

because they like to check whether it is safe

first.

In general, I was advised not to be in traffic by

night, because of a lot of drinking and driving,

and to avoid remote places in the city after

sunset.

It is also good to have the basic emergency

numbers in your cell phone:

117 police,

118 fire brigade,

119 ambulance.

But generally, very safe.

If you cross the street at a continuous

moderate pace.

30

Money

People like US dollars a lot, but they may give

the change in riel (+:- 4000R for 1$).

In Phnom Penh there are a lot of ATMs, but

not all accept VISA, Mastercard, Cirrus or

Maestro, and not all will function.

Be aware that it is a common practice to

charge you 4$ to 6$ for every transaction. I

therefore withdrew at lot of money at once to

save on the transactions. Also because I felt

safe, carrying all my money in my traveller’s

wallet.

Health care

There are a lot of healthcare centres and

pharmacies in the neighbourhoods. Also the

hospitals look quite modern. It is best to

bring your health insurance from back home.

Weather

I only saw Cambodia in the dry season, so I

cannot advise on the heat and humidity

during the rainy season. I think it is advisable

that you take all seasons into account when

looking for accommodation. You have to be

dry from the rain and need air conditioning

to sleep, when it is really hot.

Pollution and climate change

When I was here, the temperature was 5°

warmer than it used to be, but this may have

been a temporary phenomenon.

Phnom Penh is not a smog city, because it has

not much industry. The cars and motorbikes

do pollute the air during rush hour and in a

traffic jam breathing can be rather

unpleasant. Some roads are dusty, so

wearing a protection mask for your mouth

can be a good idea. You find these in every

pharmacy.

Steps to take after arrival

Meet IRO and campus tour

Meet the people of the International

Relations Office as soon as possible. They

really know what can be important for

foreigners and soften the intercultural

encounter. Basically, from the moment you

have met these people, your experience can

start. They will help you with the upcoming

steps, and what you will have to do on an

administrative level. Mostly, they also offer a

campus tour.

Find permanent accommodation

Think of what you want during the first days

and then go for a permanent shelter. IRO can

assist you with the contract or financial

negotiations.

Cambodian cell phone number

A Cambodian cell phone number is a must. I

used pre-paid Smart, because it is quite

available everywhere. Locals know a code

how you can change your 2$ credit into a 30$

credit. It seems unbelievable, but it is like

that. Don’t put more credit on the cell phone,

because the system is made to top up your

balance every two weeks. An SMS tells you

that you lose your credit, but I found that

they nevertheless give your credit back, even

though you missed the ‘top up’ deadline.

Smart also offers you to use Facebook for

free, if you drop the images.

31

Royal University Phnom Penh

Royal University Phnom Penh (RUPP) is the

largest and oldest public university in

Cambodia. It is considered to be the ‘flagship’

university. The Campus I is a really beautiful

campus, and actually one of the nice spots in

Phnom Penh, especially at sunset.

Building A is the ‘brochure picture’ building,

but the library, the French library, the

Cambodia Korea Cooperation Center and the

Cambodia Japan Cooperation Center are the

most remarkable buildings.

Uniform and habits Students have a uniform, but RUPP is not very

strict on it. Some class groups stand up as the

professor enters the class.

Information culture and

administration You will notice that the Cambodian

information culture is different from the

European one. To know what you have to do,

you can best rely on IRO. They have

experience with the international situation,

for other services this may lie outside their

domain. This may confuse them.

The Moodle learning platform is only used in

the IT department. Most of the online

information goes through Facebook, or your

personal e-mail. RUPP does not have a

corporate e-mail. You therefore may prefer to

use a specific private e-mail for your

educational communication at RUPP. There

are also billboards with information. Every

faculty as a central office.

Documents and your class schedule will be

available at the Study’s Office. If you need a

stamp, you will have to go to the

administration office in building A. Also the

lady from the information desk works there.

Next to that, there is also an accountancy

office for payments.

Please note that RUPP is quite strict on

administrative documents.

Office hours and public holidays Cambodians are early birds. You should not

be surprised, if a football match is being

played at 7am in the morning. Office hours

generally are 7:30am to 11am and from 2pm

to 5pm on weekdays. They mostly also work

on Saturday morning.

Be aware that wages for administrative staff

are low. To earn a living, most of them have to

teach or find another way of income. You may

sometimes meet an unexpected closed door.

During the long lunch break, a lot of staff go

home. The restaurants and cafe s stay open, so

most students hang around on campus.

Classes can be all day long, even in the

evening and on Saturday.

There are quite a lot of celebrations and

public holidays in Cambodia. Most of them

can be found online, but RUPP celebrations

are not in there. During my time in January

2017, I had Victory Day on 7 January,

celebrating the liberation from the Khmer

Rouge, the anniversary of RUPP on 13

January, which is a very interesting

celebration with a lot of students

participating. The student charity event, not

to miss also, was combined with the

anniversary in 2017, but could also be on

another day. Finally, I also had the Chinese

New Year at the end of January.

I did not have the opportunity, but the Water

Festival in November is told to be amazing.

Please inform yourself on time about these

public closures, because you could end

waking up for nothing, or end up for a closed

campus.

32

Getting online It is not that expensive to surf on 4G with

your mobile.

To get a password on the RUPP wifi, you can

just ask at IRO. They will know the most

recent access code.

Eating and dining There are many places to eat on campus, all

privately owned.

The fanciest, but also most expensive one, is

Blend Cafe . There is air-conditioning and

wifi, and it is pleasant to sit and work. You

may prefer this one to start your journey,

before adapting to the more local eating

habits.

The other eating houses are more local, and

very cheap. We recommend the one most

right behind building A. You can gradually

explore all of them.

Bookshop The RUPP bookshop is the most left of the

shops behind building A.

Sports and fitness RUPP does not have a sports service, but they

do have a lot of open space that is constantly

used for playing sports. Except for the

riverside and the prolongation to the

Independence Monument, the city of Phnom

Penh has not many parks or open space

which is comfortable to run, far from traffic

smoke. You will actually find that RUPP

campus is the most pleasant one to keep fit.

The football field is exceptionally used for

official sports competitions.

There are some organised sports on campus.

The Cambodia Korean Cooperation Center

offers Taekwondo lessons and in the huge

event venue at the entrance there is martial

arts training. In the venue, you will also find

table tennis. The Students’ Association

organises a quite professionally organised

football tournament between the several

faculties and programmes. If you want to

play, list up for the team of your study field.

The basic system for sports is actually very

simple. Just join a group of basket, volley,

badminton or football group at 5pm. A nice

thing to discover maybe shuttlecock (aka. in

Khmer Totsai): a feather on a suspension

that is kicked through the air, sometimes

with spectacular movements lick air back

heels or martials arts kicks.

Sports culture in Cambodia seems to be

focussing on sunrise and sunset. All over

town, you will see, alongside the traffic,

groups of people exercising on music. The

Olympic stadium is an interesting place for

that, also to watch a professional football,

basket or boxing game.

33

Students’ Association and student life

There is a Students’ Association as a

representing and organising body. They have

an office near the little park and eating places,

next to the football field.

They organise student initiatives, but they

focus on traditional culture and charity. Do

not expect typical Western student parties.

The night time in the city is generally not

preferred, as it is said it could be dangerous

for traffic accidents with drunk drivers. It is

also said not to go out to remote places. There

is a lot of nightlife though, especially near the

river.

A Karaoke bar seems a must-do experience.

Also the sky bars are quite popular.

Cambodian students, especially from the

countryside, are rather quiet. The country has

had a difficult history, and still some

problems exist. People therefore look to life

not in the ‘just party and get drunk’ way as it

can be the case with worriless Western

students. Cambodian students are actually

very much engaged for their society. The Red

Cross can even be considered as a student

organisation, as a lot of students join in to

help out.

A lot of students will also work hard, doing

part time, full time or even double time jobs,

combined with their studies.

You will live an incredible experience, and

have a fantastic time with these people. You

will reflect, and understand better. There is a

lot to learn and experience in Cambodia.

34

Climate

The average temperature in Phnom Penh

during September is around 30°C, but it is

likely to have peaks of over 33°C. Since

September is a month of the rainy season, it

would be reasonable to bring a raincoat or

an umbrella.

Daily low temperatures range from 23°

C to 25°C, falling below 20°C or

exceeding 26°C only one day in ten.

The relative humidity typically ranges

from 51% (mildly humid) to 88% (very

humid) over the course of a typical

November, rarely dropping below 44%

(comfortable) and reaching as high as

96% (very humid).

Money and Currency

The national Currency in Cambodia is

Riel. Money Exchange is available

everyplace near a market. However,

USD currency is very popular used and

accepted in Cambodia. Common

Exchange Rate: USD1= $4000 Riels

Time Zone

The time zone in Cambodia is similar

Indochina Time. It is UTC + 07:00 hours

(UTC – Universal Time Coordinated).

Capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Phnom Penh is a city in the midst of rapid

change. But as skyscrapers rise and fast food

restaurants multiply, the city still offers that

traditional old mixture of Cambodian

hospitality and Indochinese charm. Set at the

confluence of three great rivers - the

Chaktomuk or ‘four faces’ of the Mekong

River - Phnom Penh is a city of more than 2

million people and the country's commercial,

economic and political hub. Though seeing

significant development over the last 20

years, as a travel destination the city still has

an adventurous air - from the historic sites

and architecture, to the boutiques and

bistros dotting the side streets, and the city’s

legendary dusk-to-dawn nightlife.

35

ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF PHNOM PEN CREDIT TRANSFER SCHEME (CTS) FOR MOBILITY PLAN

Request for subjects or courses to study (International Student Only)

36

Appendix

STUDENT INFORMATION

Student

Name

Student ID

Sex □Male

□Female

Email

Status

University Year

For mobility

□ year 2 Semester

□ 1 □2

(Phone)

□ year 3 □ 1 □2

□ year 4 □ 1 □2

Home

Country

Degree □ BA □ MA

Home

Address

HOME INSTITUTION

Name

Location Country Department/School

Region Major

HOST INSTITUTION

Name Country

COURSE CONTENT Course Code Credits

37

View of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia


International Relations Office (IRO)


Postcode: 12156

Website: http://www.rupp.edu.kh/iro/

Phone: +855 17 890 434


Russian Federation Boulevard, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: 855-23-883-640 Fax: 855-23-880-116

CONTACT US
